# US 11,993,481 B2 · Elevator system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,481 B2 - Document ID: US11993481B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/338,882 - Filed: 2017-09-22 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-04 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Peter Herkel; Dirk Tegtmeier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993481B2 ## CPC - B66B 1/3492: {Position or motion detectors or driving means for the detector (B66B1/40, B66B1/50 take precedence; length measuring G01B; speed measuring G01P)} - B66B 5/0018: {Devices monitoring the operating condition of the elevator system} - G01B 3/10: Measuring tapes - G01P 3/00: Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds (G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; {direction and speed indication G01P13/045}; counting mechanisms G06M) - G01P 15/00: Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) ## Abstract An elevator system (2) comprises a hoistway (4) extending between a plurality of landings (8); the hoistway (4) comprising landing portions (A) and intermediate portions (B), wherein each landing portion (A) extends around a corresponding landing (8) and each intermediate portion (B) is located between two adjacent landing portions (A); an elevator car (6), which is configured for traveling along the hoistway (4); a first position determining system (15), which is configured for determining the current position of the elevator car (6) while it is located within one of the landing portions (A); and a second position determining system (17), which is configured for determining the current position of the elevator car (6) while it is located within one of the intermediate portions (B). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elevator system (2) comprising: a hoistway (4) extending between a plurality of landings (8), each landing (8) having a landing door (10) with a landing door frame (18); the hoistway (4) comprising landing portions (A) and intermediate portions (B), wherein each landing portion (A) is associated with a corresponding landing (8) and each intermediate portion (B) is located between two adjacent landing portions (A); an elevator car (6), which is configured for traveling along the hoistway (4); a first position determining system (15), which is configured for determining the current position of the elevator car (6) while it is located within one of the landing portions (A); a second position determining system (17), which is configured for determining the current position of the elevator car (6) while it is located within one of the intermediate portions (B); wherein the first position determining system (15) includes at least one position detection sensor (14), which is attached to the elevator car (6), and position detection elements (12) attached to the landing door frames (18) and including at least one coded strip or tape extending in the direction of the height of the hoistway (4). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elevator system (2) according to claim 1, wherein the position detection element (12) comprises at least one coded tape extending along the height of hoistway (4). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The elevator system (2) according to claim 1, wherein the second position determining system (17) comprises a speed sensor (16), which is attached to the elevator car (6) and configured for determining the speed of the elevator car (6), and wherein the second position determining system (17) is configured for determining the current position of the elevator car (6) by integrating the speed determined by the speed sensor (16) over time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The elevator system (2) according to claim 1, wherein the second position determining system (17) comprises an acceleration sensor (16), which is attached to the elevator car (6) and configured for determining the acceleration of the elevator car (6), and wherein the second position determining system (17) is configured for determining the current position of the elevator car (6) by integrating the acceleration determined by the speed sensor (16) over time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The elevator system (2) according to claim 1, wherein the second position determining system (17) is additionally configured for determining the current position of the elevator car (6) while it is located within one of the landing portions (A) and to be calibrated by comparing the position of the elevator car (6) determined by the second position determining system (17) with a position which is determined by the first position determining system (15), while the elevator car (6) is positioned within one of the landing portions (A). ### Claim 6 A method of determining the position of an elevator car (6) within a hoistway (4) of an elevator system (2), the hoistway (4) extending between a plurality of landings (8) and comprising landing portions (A) and intermediate portions (B), wherein each landing portion (A) is associated with a corresponding landing (8) and each intermediate portion (B) is located between two adjacent landing portions (A)), wherein each landing (8) has a landing door (10) with a landing door frame (18); wherein the method comprises determining the current position of the elevator car (6) by means of a first position determining system (15), while the elevator car (6) is located within one of the landing portions (A), wherein determining the current position of the elevator car (6) includes detecting, with a position detection sensor (14) attached to the elevator car (6), at least one position detection element (12), which is attached to the landing door frames (18) and includes at least one coded strip or tape extending in the direction of the height of the hoistway (4); and wherein the method comprises determining the current position of the elevator car (6) by means of a second position determining system (17), while the elevator car (6) is located within one of the intermediate portions (B). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein determining the current position of the elevator car (6) by means of the second position determining system (17) includes determining a speed of the elevator car (6) by means of a speed sensor (16) attached to the elevator car (6) and integrating the speed determined by the speed sensor (16) over time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein determining the current position of the elevator car (6) by means of the second position determining system (17) includes determining an acceleration of the elevator car (6) by means of an acceleration sensor (16) attached to the elevator car (6) and integrating the acceleration determined by the speed sensor (16) over time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the method includes determining the current position of the elevator car (6) while it is located within one of the landing portions (A) and calibrating the second position determining system (17) by comparing the position of the elevator car (6) determined by the second position determining system (17) with a position which is determined by the first position determining system (15), while the elevator car (6) is positioned within a landing portion (A) of the hoistway (4).